Arizona weekly citizen., 1887-08-20
AN ENGLISH STAG HUNT.
exHILARATlNe EFFECT OF A GAL
 IoP OVER THE HEATHER.

Hurry Is the Word When the Hounds
 Begin to Bay-A Hard Ride to the
 Finish-A Stag Facing His Foes-rhe
 Death Stroke.
 We are on the top of Porlock hiil, and southward and westward stretch the rolling hills of the forest, scared by the deep coombes and ravines at the bottom of which invariably runs stream of water, in which salmon and trout cause many a whirl and eddy. The grand old trees on the sloping sides of these coombes look so quiet and stately that 1t seems as If we had left the hAbited world altogether Northward, a thousand feet below us, the Atlantic ocean rolls its waters up the Bristol channel, and dashes its spray on the shingly beach shadowed by the trees and hrushwood which come quite down to the waters edge. But harkl There's a shout and the pealing of Arthur's horn Something's afoot -Is it a stag or hindP is the anxious inquiry of everybody. There it goes up wonder slope. 'Tis hind, though, with tufter hard at her heels" The hound is whipped of, and again we wait That's whimper, surely, below there another, now e chorus from four or five hounds, backed up by notes from horn All eyes are eagerly watching the edges of the woods to see what breaks out. Crashi By Jovei there be is, and splendid fellow, too. What headl Brow, bay, and tray, and three 'pon top 'Tis a glorious sight to see him toss back his antlers and go at long, swinging gallop across the heather and disap- pear over the crest of the opposite hill Hurry is the word Tighten your girths, get into the saddle, and make up your mind for hard ride now, for the stag has gone straight for the moor, and sobbing sides and reddened rowels will tell their usual tale ere we set him up to bay; perhaps in 'Waters- meetn
 The tufterS are whipped of, aud Arthur rides fast back for the pack, which be quickly brings up and lays on the track Just min ute the hounds feather, then from old ChAl- lenger's throat there comes a roar ss be strikes the line; bis comrades take up the note, and for 8 few minutes the hills resound to the deep bsying as each dog catches the mystic scent They rapidly settle down to their long sweeping stride, and the hunt has fairly begun
 We are in good position, so far, and feel the exhilarating effect of a moorland gallop as the heather glides under our horses feet. Down that coombe the chase takes us, along the bottom, then up the steep sides over the powders and among the larches. Our horses must walk it. At last we reach the brow and observe few horsemen vanish over the opposite side. We follow hard in their wake, and soon can see the hounds before and below us running fast and close to the line Arthur in his scarlet coat is close up with them, as also are about half dozen jealous sportSmen- Two hours, and not e cheek Y Phewl Our horses are beginning to feel the strain, and we should not at all object to draw rein, but the gallant beast ahead Is showing sport, and be leads us through the beautiful woods and glades of Horner, past the old water mill, up the stream, and across the side of old Dunkerry, the highest and bleakest hiH in the west Here the hounds
 wsver and lose the scent Ahl what relief to pull up and blow our horses. Five min utes, and an old hound hits the line again, and says so, and shows the way toward the famous valley where the Doones had their robber stronghold Few are ths riders now, as we lead our foam covered horses down the tremendous declivity none could ride down. Again we mount, dash through the ford of Bradgeworthy Water, and stretch out for SimonSbath. We take care to avoid riding where tine bright green patches of seeming beautiful galloping ground denote the pres ence of bogs, into which il is dangerous to ride. Lives gre lost by getting into these quagmires, aud frequenters of the moor give them as wide berth as possible.
 Hal The bounds swing back towards Bradgevorthy Water, and the stag is seen below with lowered head now seeking the cooling bath of the waters. No time do the dogs give him, however, and be sinks the hill straight this time. Tt is all upls We know now that he has well nigh finished his course, for when deer seek to attain a hilltop by going straight up 'tis a sure sign of the end The master and Arthur with one or two other riders in scarlet are in front of US. and we hope that the stag will turn to bay quickly, So that we may be present at the kill The noble brutes We ride have had quite enough of it, and gone is the free reaching stride of the beginning of the hunt. We struggle on, however, and are gladdened by hearing the baying of the hounds beneath, down by tho stream, beyond that thick belt of woods We slip and chatter down the rough sides, and between the trees we catch a glimpse of scar let and other coats, raging dogs, and, as we get up close, there, with his back against an immense powder, m mid stream, is the old stag facing his foes and, like 6 gentleman as he is, fighting to the last One unwary young hound is ripped up frUm shoulder to flank by a dash of those terribly sharp browantlers. Others, more wise, keep at a distance, and bay till the coombs echoes with their pealing notes
 Arthur is in first, and jumping out of the saddle with the agility of 30 years instead of =, gets up the sides of the rock, and when the deer, with hoof and horn, Is keeping his canine enemies from fastening on him, be leans forward and sends his hunting knife deep into his throat With an upward toss of his head and a roll of his beautifully brown eyes the stag sinks down into the water dead. Then the death whoop peals, and the mort is sounded, again and again, Awhoop, who-o- o-p, who-who-o-op" The shouts make the coombe echo and re-echo with the shrill hal loo, and the stragglers coming down tine hill sides know that they are just too late to see the death stroke given.
 The deer is pulled to the bank and his points are counted and his size admired He is then grallocked and his entrails thrown to the hounds. The dots the two fore hoofsl are given as trophies to two fair ladies, who have ridden the chase fairly through, from find to finish. Congratulations and experi- encrs of the day are exchanged, and a merry ten minutes chat takes plaeeL--The Ethel ing" in The Argonaut-